The world according to the Economist: CIA waterboards 3x self-admitted al Qaeda terrorists and that blackens America's name forever. The British government arranges for criminals to MURDER one of its own citizens and that is only "a troubling reminder that Britain, at times, plays dirty". What a joke.

I actually found this article rather pro-British government. Very little was written about his family's opinion on this matter. It does not mention that the previous British govt. agree with the Irish govt. to hold an independent inquiry. Thus the British govt. have broken their commitments.

How very courageous of Mr. Cameron to use the word " shocking" four times. Now how about doing something about it, like forcing a murder investigation by a really courageous person, and mandating that all those involved, no matter how senior, will be charged with any offences that appear.

this article is biased - it shows the bad side of UDA and nothing else - there was violence from both side,the worst being IRA and PIRA ! These hoodlums never accepted the fact that Northern Ireland chose to remain British !
Alas, some IRA notorious and nefarious criminals are today politicans in the Republic , like Gerry A. , so we have this sort of drivel telling us what it never was !

Finucane was murdered, and murder is a criminal offence. That said, Finucane did'nt just "represent republicans" - he worked to Provisional IRA orders. At inquests his cross-examination was obviously designed to secure intelligence for the IRA.

There is no evidence to make such a statement. The fact is that Britain claimed at the time to be a democracy. In such a system all individuals regardless of what they had done are entitled to fair trial and legal representation. Even in Norway today such evil as Anders Breivik is tried by a proper trial, why because we believe everyone is entitled to fair trial. This murder represents a clear attempt to threaten those who represented opponents of the British state. Much of the evidence being brought against people was highly questionable eg. unsigned statements. Although his siblings were indeed in the IRA, he himself was not. That fact is that by the late 1970s a huge proportion of the Nationalist population had come to support the IRA, so therefore support is no grounding for killing, he was not a member of the IRA himself. He was a lawyer, a man who practiced the law and therefore his death was wrong.

There is no evidence to make such a statement. The fact is that Britain claimed at the time to be a democracy. In such a system all individuals regardless of what they had done are entitled to fair trial and legal representation. Even in Norway today such evil as Anders Breivik is tried by a proper trial, why because we believe everyone is entitled to fair trial. This murder represents a clear attempt to threaten those who represented opponents of the British state. Much of the evidence being brought against people was highly questionable eg. unsigned statements. Although his siblings were indeed in the IRA, he himself was not. That fact is that by the late 1970s a huge proportion of the Nationalist population had come to support the IRA, so therefore support is no grounding for killing, he was not a member of the IRA himself. He was a lawyer, a man who practiced the law and therefore his death was wrong.

This really goes to show that you need checks and balances in state institutions. I really hope we don't get state regulation of the press in the uk and that ISPs arent required to monitor all our Internet access in case some government officer wants to see what we've been up to.

Not only does it appear that these are the "agents of the state" to whom the government wishes to give more access to our email and other on-line communications, but the government is also encouraging the spread of sectarian education elsewhere in the UK.
Will we never learn from history?

Rather than feeding into factors which threaten to break up the United Kingdom, the UK govt should be establishing long-term policies intended to progressively strengthen legal and other types of bonds between the UK's constituent parts, IE: England, Wales, N. Ireland and Scotland...

As a preliminary step towards this, the UK govt should immediately pass laws requiring all city, county and regional (IE: below Westminster) governments in the country to fly the Union flag daily, every day of the year...

Why would any building in Wales wish to fly the Union flag which does not include even a nod in the direction of Wales being part of the UK? Much better and visually far more attractive would be the flying of the Red Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) a far more stirring emblem of nation hood

For Northern Ireland it's a lot more complicated than that considering the Irish population residing there.

Some sort of neutral flag should be created for N.Ireland and flown I think, to try and get beyond this controversy over whether we're British or Irish, but to establish/strengthen our own pride in our country.

For Northern Ireland it's a lot more complicated than that considering the Irish population residing there.

Some sort of neutral flag should be created for N.Ireland and flown I think, to try and get beyond this controversy over whether we're British or Irish, but to establish/strengthen our own pride in our country.

You are implying that we should give into people who disrespect democratic means and engage in violence including pelting the homes of politicians with young children in the run up to Christmas and sending death threats to democratically elected representatives. Such a law would go against everything agreed in the peace process. Under Good Friday, which we agreed both North and South by vote, we recognise people's right to be British or Irish or both. Both cultures have to be respected if there is to be a good future in NI. How can flying a flag one section of the population (which now has a majority in Belfast)detests be in anyway forward thinking. Under the Good Friday Agreements which was voted on both north and south of the Irish borders, all sides agreed that NI's future is in the hand's of the people of NI. Therefore the British govt. agreed to not engage in destructive behaviour which you outline above. Please look into the Peace Process in NI before you make flawed comments.

You are implying that we should give into people who disrespect democratic means and engage in violence including pelting the homes of politicians with young children in the run up to Christmas and sending death threats to democratically elected representatives. Such a law would go against everything agreed in the peace process. Under Good Friday, which we agreed both North and South by vote, we recognise people's right to be British or Irish or both. Both cultures have to be respected if there is to be a good future in NI. How can flying a flag one section of the population (which now has a majority in Belfast)detests be in anyway forward thinking. Under the Good Friday Agreements which was voted on both north and south of the Irish borders, all sides agreed that NI's future is in the hand's of the people of NI. Therefore the British govt. agreed to not engage in destructive behaviour which you outline above. Please look into the Peace Process in NI before you make flawed comments.

This is a most disturbing article and I use the word "disturbing" with great reluctance since the more obvious and appropriate words are too awful to write. This hideous and tragic murder casts shame on the British nation and, what may even be worse, implies the involvement of the nation's Government, even - dare I say it - to a high level.

God help us and may God grant eternal comfort to the family of this innocent man.

De Silva's findings open appalling prospectives on who is actually governing the UK - the Government as we all believe? a cabal within the Police/Secret Services that does what it likes? an intra- or extra- governmental group that directs policy whatever the government officially decides?
These prospectives dictate the need for an independent public inquiry. The British people deserve clear answers